Tendon puller



P 21, 1954 w. MACDONALD 2,689,371

'rsuvou FULLER Filed Feb. '11, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 1, Su an; g,

I l l l I I I I I I I I I l I I I I l I I l I I I I I I I I l l l I l l I I I l I l I I I I I l l l 1- IVENTOR I/l a ljr Macdanajd ATTORNEY Sept. 21, 1954 w. MACDONALD 2,689,371

TENDON FULLER Filed Feb. 11, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV'ENTOR I I aZZef Alacdonaid ATTORNEY Vj/ig Patented Sept. 21, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TENDON PULLER- Walter Macdonald, Seekonk, Mass. Application February 11, 1954, Serial No. 409,661

17 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in tendon pullers, especiallyfor the legs of turkeys and other poultry.

The devices used heretofore, adapted for extracting the tendons from the legs of turkeys and other poultry, have been objectionable because they involve rotating motions which make it difficult to extract the tendons without damage to the fleshy parts of the legs of the: fowl and often result in breaking of thetendons without effective removal from the legs, and because they are manually operated. This is due tothe fact that such tendon pullers drag the tendons over the fingers of the jaws, thus creating an angle in the tendons that interferes with the efiective removal of the tendons from the fleshy parts of the legs.

One object of this invention is to improve the construction of tendon pullers adapted both for breaking the legs and for removal of the tendons therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a tendon puller for a breaking of the legs in a direction substantially in a plane that extends lengthwise of the respective legs rather than transversely thereof and which thus extracts the ,tendons in a substantially straight .line pull lengthwise of the legs without bending them or creating an angle in the tendons as has been the practice heretofore.

Still another object of this, invention is to provide a double acting jaw. structure which will serve not only to clamp a leg therein, but also upon a lengthwise movement of the jaw, will, break the leg andpull the tendons therefroin'in a compound motion thatserves to remove the tendons effectively and easily and without requiring an angular bending of that portion of the tendons being removed from the flesh, which would interfere with'the effective removal...

Still another object of the inventionis to' provide for the operation of the tendon puller by power means, particularly a hydraulic device, that functions quickly and efiectively. to "'removethe tendons from the poultry.

These objects may be accomplished according to certain embodiments of the invention, in which a hydraulic power deviceis connected with a jaw assembly wherein the assembly is pivotally mounted on an axis extending transversely of the direction of pull applied byth'e power device. The jaw assembly includes a'pair of jaws in co operatin relation with each other, adapted to receive a poultry leg ,therebetween and to clamp,

the leg in place.

One of the jaws is pivoted to the otherupon thus breaking the leg and extracting the tendons therefrom. A compound motion is imparted to the jaw assembly as it is moved bodily in imparting a pulling action to the leg, first to break the leg and then to remove the tendons, but all of.

this compound motion is applied in a direction which lies substantially in a plane extending parallel with the length of the leg, or through the latter, rather than at an angle thereto, as would be. the case with other tendon pullers used here tofore.

In this way, the tendons are removed without imparting an angular drag of the tendons over the fingers or other parts of the pulling device, but the straight line motion applied by this device serves to remove the tendons effectively from the legs. A pair of jaw assemblies may be used to receive the pair of legs of each fowl, both of which may be broken simultaneously and the tendons extracted therefrom. I

This embodiment of the invention, together with a modification thereof, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of the complete tendon puller;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; 7

Fig. 3 is a side elevation on a somewhat'enlarged scale, showing the jaw assembly in its lowered or initial position;

Fig. 4 is a similar view, after removal of the tendons;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of one of the jaw assemblies Fig. 6 is a top plan view of one of the jaw assemblies; and a Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a modified form of jaw.

Referring to Figsl and 2, the tendon puller is provided with a supporting standard, general- '3, such as rivets, bolts, or other suitable fastenings, which will secure the standard to the wall and yet permit of outward swinging movement of the standard relative thereto.

The lower end portion of the standard I is connected with the wall W by means which preferably provides for such outward swinging movement, such as an arm 4 pivotally connected at 5 with a bracket 6 that is secured to the face of the wall. A bracket I, secured to the lower end of the standard I, has a bolt or other suitable fastening 3, extending through the bracket I and through a slot in the arm 4, for adjustably securing these parts together. Thus, the lower end portion ofthe standard I may swing outward relative to the wall and be locked in an adjusted position by the bolt 8. which preferably has a thumb tightened nut thereon.

The standard I also supports on its lower end a stop member 9. In the form illustrated, the stop member 9 is in the form of an angle bar provided with an upturned flange secured by welding or any suitable fastening means to the outer face of the standard I adjacent the lower end thereof. The stop member 9 is provided with a pair of inwardly tapering slots or notches It, that extend inwardly from the outer edge thereof and are tapered to accommodate different sized legs and to permit of wedging of the legs into these slots H3 so that the knee is beneath stop member 9. The slots III constitute fixed jaws for receiving and holding the legs therein.

Also mounted at the upper end of the standard I is a bracket II, including a pair of outwardly extending ears I I which receive therebetween an eyebolt I2. The eyebolt I2 is connected with the bracket II by a transverse pin I3 that extends through the eye of the eyebolt and through the ears on the bracket, thus swivelly connecting the eyebolt with the bracket and the standard I.

Supported by the eyebolt I2 is a supporting device for movable jaws. In the form illustrated, this supporting device comprises a hydraulic power device generally designated at I4, adapted for fluid operation. This device I4 includes a cylinder having a piston mounted therein for reciprocating movement upon the admission of fluid under pressure into opposite ends of the cylinder alternately. The construction of such devices is well understood and need not be described in detail. operated device may be used for this purpose. The piston rod projecting from the lower end of the cylinder is illustrated at I5.

Fluid may be admitted to the cylinder of the power device I4 at its respective opposite ends through suitable flexible or other conduits, generally indicated at It and H, which are connected with a four-way valve structure indicated generally at I8. This valve It may be controlled manually by means of a handle I9, to admit and exhaust fluid at opposite ends of the cylinder according to the action desired. An inlet pipe is shown at 29, provided with a pressure gauge 2| to indicate the pressure of the fluid supplied. Exhaust conduits are shown at 22 and 23, respectively.

The lower end of the piston rod I5 carries a block 24, secured rigidly to the piston rod it as by screw threaded connection I5 (Fig. 5) therewith. The block 24 in turn is bored transversely and receives therethrough a cross-rod 25, which is securely anchored in the block 2 by a set screw 28. The opposite end portions of the cross-rod 25 are adapted to receive and support the jaw assemblies and may be reduced in Any suitable form of fluid 4 diameter, if desired,.to hold these assemblies in place. A suitable fastening means, generally indicated at 21, is connected with each outer end of the cross-rod 25 to secure the jaw assembly thereon.

Each jaw assembly comprises a head, general- 1y indicated at 28, which may be formed as a casting, if desired, and has an opening therethrough, receiving one end of the cross-rod 25, which opening 29 is journaled on the cross-rod for swinging movement of the head relative thereto. The head 28 is provided with a lateral jaw face, generally indicated at 3t, and at one end of the head 28 an arm 3| extends laterally therefrom.

A leg lock member 32 is pivotally mounted on a pin 33 projecting laterally from the arm 3|, being journaled thereon for swinging movement relative to the arm 3|, as indicated in the different positions shown in full lines and in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4. A handle its is connected with the leg lock 32 for manipulating the latter. One side of the leg lock 32 is provided with an upwardly extending groove 35 therethrough, forming a jaw adapted to receive therein a leg of the fowl and coacting with the jaw face 39, to clamp the leg therebetween. The base of the groove 35 is curved in an upward direction about an axis which is not coaxial with the pivot axis 33, but is eccentric thereof to compensate for different sized legs and to securely clamp them in place between the jaws 3G and 35.

The leg lock 32 is provided with a lateral arm 36, to which one end of a coiled spring 37 is anchored. The opposite end of the spring 3; extends and is secured to a cross bar 33, rigidly fixed to the back face of the block 24 and extending laterally on opposite sides thereof. The outer end of the cross bar 38 forms a stop abutment, as indicated at 39, for each of the assembly heads 28. Normally, the spring 3? tends to hold the leg lock 32 in its closed or locking position, as shown in full lines in Figs. 3 and a. However, upon movement of the leg lock 32 to its open position by the handle 34, the spring 3?! will swing to the opposite side of the axis of the pivot 33 and thereby will hold the leg loci: open during the assembly of a leg of the fowl in the jaw assembly, thus leaving both hands of the operator free for manipulating the legs and mounting them in the puller without requiring the use of one hand. to hold the leg lock open. Howevenupon a very slight movement of the handle 34 to shift the spring 3I to the opposite side of the axis of the pivot 33, the leg loch will be closed and securely hold theleg clamped in the jaws 30, 35.

The initial positions of the jaw assemblies are illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in which these assemblies are lowered to a point in close proximity with the stop member 9. This may .be accomplished by manipulating the valve It to force fluid under pressure into the upper end of the cylinder of the power device It, moving the piston and piston rod I5 totheir lowered positions.

In this position, the leg locks 32 are opened by the handles 34 swinging clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, to the dotted line positions shown therein. The legs of the fowl can be inserted in the slots I9 and between the jaws 3B, 35, with the feet just above the jaw assemblies as illustrated in Fig. 3, and the knee below the stop As noted above, the springs 31 will tend to hold the leg locks 32 open during theapplication of the legs thereto and then upon swinging the leg looks just sufficient for the springs to cross to the opposite sides of the axis of the pivots 33, these leg locks will be drawn into tight engagement with the legs and 'hold them securely in the device.

Them-upon manipulation of the valve IE to force pressure into the lower end of the cylinder of the power device H, the piston and piston rod I5 thereof will be moved upward. This upward pull will be imparted in a vertical line through the axis of the cross shaft 25, as viewed in Fig. 3. Due to the offside position of the legs of the fowl with respect to this axis of pull, the jaw assembly will swing about the axis of thecross shaft 25 during such upward pull of the' piston rod l5. This swinging motion will cause a transverse bending action on each leg of the fowl suificient to break the leg between the ankle and the knee joint, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. This breaking of .the'leg will .be in a direction generally lengthwise of each leg rather than at right angles thereto therethrough as has been the practice heretofore in other tendon pullers. More,- over, the breakage occurs near the ankle, whereas such other tendon pullers employing a rotary motion have caused the break to occur near the knee joint of each leg.

Immediately after the breakage has occurred, the continued upward movement will carry both the foot and its connected portion of the leg, as wellas the tendons which are here illustrated at 'I, pulling them out of the remainder of the leg attached to the body, and in a straight line extending from the hip to the bracket pin 13. Thereafter, the springs 31 will restore the jaw assemblies to their full line positions in Fig. t, automatically, as the jaw assemblies are moved to their uppermost positions.

Then upon opening the leg locks 32, the feet and tendons are expelled therefrom and, of course, the fowl will be removed from the slots ID in which the remainder of the legs may be wedged by the action described.

In place of the jaw assemblies described above, it isalso possible to use a non-locking jaw for each of the legs, as illustrated in Fig. 7. This non-locking jaw comprises a body 40 having an opening 4| therethrough, adapted for mounting at one end of the cross shaft 25 in place of the jaw body 28. The body 40 is provided also with I an arm 42, adapted for connection with one end of the spring 31, the opposite end of which spring is secured to the cross bar 38. The body it is provided with a slot 43 therethrough in an upward direction, with upwardly projecting fingers 44 on opposite sides of the slot 43,110 prevent the foot from slipping out of the slot, which latter is also formed so as to aid in centering the leg therein. In other respects, this form of jaw may be used in place of the jaw assemblies described above, as desired.

In this embodiment of the invention, a single jaw 49-43 is provided for each leg, in place of the jaw 28-32. This non-locking jaw 4 13, however, is adapted to cooperate with the fixed jaw I!) in the manner described above, for receiving and holding the leg therein, breaking the leg and extracting the tendons therefrom. Ihe leg of the fowl is placed laterally through the slot 43 with the foot above the fingers 44, which latter tend'to prevent the foot from slipping out of the slot in a lateral direction. The foot will be held by the jaw Ail-43, and as it is drawn upward by the supporting device, such as the hy- 6 draulic power device M, the leg will be broken and the tendons extracted, substantially as described above.

It will be evident from the foregoing descrip tion that the actuation of the hydraulic power device 14 will move the jaw assemblies, either of the type shown in Figs. 1 to 6, or the modified form shown in Fig. 7, first to break the legs of the fowl and then to extract the tendons therefrom after separating the feet from the major portions of the legs. The breaking action is accomplished by a bending over of the legs in planes extending lengthwise thereof, but this bending or turning action is not continued while the tendons are beingwithdrawn.

The lock 32 holds the foot positively in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, and as the piston moves upward, as generally indicated in Fig. 4, with the knee held securely below the stop member 9, the entire jaw assembly 28 must swing on the rod 25 into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4. This means that the surface 30 has rotated from a vertical to a horizontal position and the foot, including the lower portion of the leg, up to the point of fracture, remains parallel to the surface 30. The remainder of the leg, which is still a part of the fowl, remains in a vertical position parallel to the piston rod with the knee still locked beneath the stop 9.

The result is that the leg is fractured at the point indicated. About 300 lbs. pull is necessary to cause this fracture and the instant that the fracture occurs, this 300 lb. pull transfers to the tendons. However, approximately 450 lbs. per leg is required to separate the tendons. from the portion of the leg attached to the fowl. Therefore it can be understood that the entire jaw assembly remains in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4 until the tendons are entirely free from the leg of the bird, after which, the spring 31 causes the entire jaw assembly to return to the. position shown in full lines in Fig. 4.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in certain embodiments, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

1. In a tendon pulling device, the combination of jaws adapted to receiveand hold a leg of a fowl therein, a support for one of the jaws, means mounting said support forbodily movement relative to the other jaw, and means journaling said one of the jaws on the support for swinging move ment relative thereto.

2. In a tendon pulling device, the combination of jaws adapted to receive and hold a leg of a fowl therein, a supportfor one of the jaws, means mounting said support for bodily rectilinear movement relative to the other jaw, and means journaling said one of the jaws on the support for swinging movement relative thereto.

3. In a tendon pulling device, the combination of a fixed jaw, a movable jaw spaced from the fixed jaw and cooperating therewith for holding a leg of a fowl therein, a support for the movable jaw, means mounting the support for bodily movement relative to the fixed jaw, and means journaling the movable jaw on the support for swinging movement relative thereto.

4. In a tendon pulling device, the combination of a fixed jaw, a movable jaw spaced from the fixed jaw and cooperating therewith for holding a leg of a fowl therein, a support for the movable jaw, means mounting the support for bodily movement relative to the fixed jaw, said support having a journal projecting outwardly therefrom and supporting the movable jaw thereon for swinging movement relative thereto.

5. In a tendon pulling device, the combination of a fixed jaw, a movable jaw spaced from the fixed jaw and cooperating therewith for holding a leg of a fowl therein, a support for the movable jaw, means mounting the support for bodily movement relative to the fixed jaw, means jour naling the movable jaw on the support for swinging movement relative thereto, and fluid operated power means connected with the support for operating the movable jaw.

6. In a tendon pulling device, the combination of a supporting block, a cross-rod projecting from opposite sides of the block, and a jaw structure journaled on each opposite end portion of said cross-rod on opposite sides of the block.

'7. In a tendon pulling device, the combination of a supporting block, a cross-rod projecting from opposite sides of the block, and a jaw structure journaled on each opposite end portion of said cross-rod on opposite sides of the block, said jaw structure including means for engaging and holding a leg of a fowl.

8. In a tendon pulling device, the combination of a supporting block, a cross-rod projecting from opposite sides of the block, a jaw structure journaled on each opposite end portion of said crossrod on opposite sides of the block, and a fluid operated power device suspending the block for bodily movement of the jaw structure.

9. In a tendon pulling device, the combination of a jaw structure having a jaw face at one side thereof, means for holding a fowl leg against the jaw face, means pivotally supporting the jaw structure on an axis extending transversely of the jaw face, and means mounting said pivotal support means for bodily movement during said pivoting movement.

it). In a tendon pulling device, the combination of a jaw structure having a jaw face at one side thereof, means for holding a fowl leg against the jaw face, means pivotally supporting the jaw structure on an axis extending transversely of the jaw face, said supporting means including a block, and a journal projecting laterally from the block and having the jaw structure journaled thereon.

11. In a tendon pulling device, the combina tion of a jaw structure having a jaw face at one side thereof, means for holding a fowl leg against the aw face, means pivotally supporting the jaw structure onan axis extendin transversely of the jaw face for swinging motion relativ to said axis, and power means connected with the pivotal supporting means for moving said jaw structure during swinging thereof.

12. In a tendon pulling device, the combination of a supporting device having a jaw face, a second jaw member in cooperating clamping relation to the jaw face in position to clamp a fowl leg therebetween, means pivotally supporting the jaw member on the supporting device about one .axis, and means pivotally mounting the supporting device for swinging movement about another axis.

13. In a tendon pulling device, the combination of a supporting device having a jaw face, a second jaw member'in cooperating clamping relation to the jaw face in position to clamp a fowl leg therebetween, means pivotally supporting the jaw member on the supporting device about one axis, means pivotally mounting the supporting device for swinging movement about another axis, and a spring connected with th jaw member normally tending to hold said member in one extreme position.

14. In a tendon pulling device, the combination of a supporting device having a jaw face, a second jaw member in cooperating clamping relation to the jaw face in position to clamp a fowl leg therebetween, means pivotally supporting the jaw member on the supporting device about one axis, a supporting block, a journal carried thereby and having the supporting device mounted thereon for swinging movement about another axis.

15. In a tendon pulling device, the combination of a supporting device having a jaw face, a second jaw member in cooperating clamping relation to the jaw face in position to clamp a fowl leg therebetween, means pivotally supporting the jaw member on the supportin device about one axis, a supporting block, a journal carried thereby and having the supporting device mounted thereon for swinging movement about another axis, and a spring connected with the supporting block and with the jaw member in positions tending to mov the jaw member and the supporting device to their respective normal positions.

16. In a tendon pulling device, the combination of a supporting device having a jaw face, a second jaw member in cooperating clamping relation. to the jaw face in position to clamp a fowl leg therebetween, means pivotally supporting the jaw member on the supporting device about one axis, a supporting block, a journal carried thereby and having the supporting device mounted thereon for swinging movement about another axis, and a coiled spring anchored at one end to the block and at its opposite end to the jaw memher at one side of the pivot of the jaw member in closed relation to be moved to the opposite side of said pivot upon opening of the jaw member, said spring tending to move the supporting device to a normal position.

1'2. In a tendon pulling device, the combination of a fixed jaw, a movable jaw adjacent the fixed jaw, said fixed and movable jaws having axial openings therethrough in positions for receiving a leg of a fowl therein and extending axially of said openings, and means mounting the movable jaw for bodily movementthereof relative to the fixed jaw in a direction axially of said openings for separating and removing portions of the leg from each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,189,160 Monroe June 27, 1916 2,258,884 Duffy, Sr. Oct. 14, 1941 2,269,662 Guyot Jan. 13, 1942 2,314,821 Fritts Mar, 23, 1943 2,620,160 Ray Dec. 2, 1952 2,669,748 Ine Feb. 23, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 326,037 Great Britain Mar. 6, 1930 

